Machine for twisting metal and-forming spiral conveyers



(ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. 0. MARK. MACHINE FOB. TWISTING METAL AND FORMING SPIRAL O0NVEYERS.-

N0. 393 8. g Patented Nov. 27, 1888.

IIIIHHII u.

I I fi 2 T if i; l 44 I I? 5 3 ha f .3 LI: g1" I J E a g I %ih w/owo I vSvwawl'oz Q7 m 3 6513 fi/p jaflio'zmm W.

N PETERS Phntmlihognphor. washin wn. D c

(ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. 0. MAKE.

MACHINE FOR TWISTING METAL AND FORMING SPIRAL GONVEYERS. No. 393,378.iPatented Nov. 2'7, 1888.

q vitmaooao v ambc'wlio'c N, FzTzns-Phowmnc n hor. Washington 04 c,

(ModeL) 3 Sheets- Sheet 3..

W. 0. MAKE.

MAGHINE FOR TWISTING METAL AND FORMING SPIRAL GONVBYERS. No. 393,378.Patented Nov. 27, 1888.

vl Q 2: ==F v 1 Lir gm V I? ad w 1 V NITED TATES PATENT FFICE.

XVILLIAM 0. MARK, OF ONAW'A, IOWA.

MACHINE FOR TWISTING METAL AND-FORMING SPlRAL CONVEYERS.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,378, dated November27,1888,

Application filed N0vember3,18E7. Serial No. 951,162. (Modch) To all1072,0722 it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM 0. MARK, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Onawa, in the county of Monona and State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forTwisting Metal and Forming Spiral Conveyors, of

v which the following is a specification, reference a plan view of themachine.

being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to machines for twisting metal and forming spiralconveyers; and it consists in certain improvements in the constructionof such machines, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is an end View, parts being removed. Fig. at is across-section taken on line a: a: of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 illustratecertain details of the machine. Fig. 7 represents spiral conveyors withright and left twists, respectively.

A designates the frame adapted to carry the operative devices of themachine, in the main standards of which the driving-shaft B has itsbearings, said shaft being provided with a crank, a, or with.power-gearing, (not shown,) as desired. Above the drivingshaft aremounted four converging shafts, two of said shafts, O and O, convergingfrom one end of the frame toward the center,and two shafts, O and Gconverging from the opposite end. These shafts do not have bearings inthe main frame, but in supporting-pieces, chiefly supported by thedrivingshaft, as hereinafter stated.

On the shafts O and G is mounted a frame, D, the shafts passing throughthe side pieces of the frame, which is adjustably supported in aninclined position, as hereinafter stated. The outer ends of the shafts OC have their .bearings in the movable pieces b and c, which .end. Theouter end of shaft 0 extends into the piece 0 at its upper end and hasbearing therein. The inner part of shaft G has bearing in the upper endof a piece, d,which is pivotally mounted on the driving-shaft. The innerbearing of the shaft 0' is in the frame D, through which said shaftpasses, as before stated.

Adjacent to the frame Dis a yoke, g, the legs or bifurcations of whichare loosely placed in grooves in vertical portions E of the frame,sothat the yoke has a slight vertical movement in the adjustment of frameD, hereinafter mentioned, the yoke having a pivotal connection at f withsaid frame. The pivotal connection with yoke g on one side of the frameD, and the piece 0 with the fixed pin entering a slot in the standard atthe other side, serve to retain the frame in position and prevent itslateral or irregular movement, but allow its adjustment. Y

The upper end of frame D has an extension or slotted arm, h, which isadj ustably connected with a cross-piece, F,at the top of frame A bymeans of a bolt passing through a slot, t, in arm h and a slot, 7;, incross-piece F, and a securing-nut. This adjustable connection allows theadjustment of frame D in its in clination as desired, and also thereversing of the frame in position from an inclination in one directionto an inclination in the opposite direction, for the purpose herein setforth.

On the inward ends of shafts O O are placed conical rollers G and G, theinclined shafts holding the rollers with their surfaces adjacent to eachother and with their inward ends on oblique line corresponding with theinclination of frame D. These conical rollers are adjustablelongitudinally on their respective shafts, and are provided withdetachable heads m, which are secured to their inward ends in anysuitable manner. The shafts O O are provided with connecting gear-wheelsH H, to which motion is imparted through wheel K on the driving-shaft.

At or near the opposite end of frame A another frame, D, is mounted onthe converging shafts C and C, said frame D being in constructionsimilar to the frame D and having a slotted arm, h, connected in likemanner with a slotted cross-piece, F. The shafts OC have The inward endsof said shafts have conical rollers G G placed thereon, the same beingadjustable and provided with detachableheads m. The shafts are alsoprovided with con necting gear-wheels H H", one of which ongages with awheel, K, on the driving-shaft. The said heads in m aredetachabl yconnected with the conical rollers for the purpose of enabling therollers to be used without the heads in twisting plates having nocentral shafts. The rollers and this shaft are inclined, and the rollersare made conical in shape to enable them to form and readily travel overthe different surfaces of the spiral wings. The conical rollers beingadjustable longitudinally on their shafts, the rollers G G may be setcloser to or farther from the rollers G" G to adapt the machine fortwisting plates of different widths and plates having smaller or largercentral shafts. In forming the spiral conveyor shown inFig. 7 the headsin m are attached to the rollers for the purpose of swaging the metalclosely around the central shaft, a. To adjust the rollers in operativepositions the frames D D must be reversely inclined, )lacing the rollersG G on one inclined plane and the rollers G G on a reversely-inclinedplane corresponding with the inolinations of the frames. The relativepositions of the conical rollers may be best described by reference tothree planes-viz., a vertical plane on line :r .r of Fig. 1, ahorizontal plane on line a s of Fig. 2, and a vertical plane on line .5s at right angles to plane a: x of Fig.1.

Rollers G Ii are on one side and rollers G G are on the other side ofplane 0: Rollers G G are mostly above and rollers G G" are mostly belowplane 8 s. Vhen the ma chine is adjusted to form a right-hand spiralconveyor, the rollers G G are mostly in front and the rollers G G aremostly in the rear of the plane a s; but when the machine is adjusted toform a left-hand spiral conveyor the positions of the rollers arereversed in relation to the last-named plane, so that G G are in therear and G G are in front of plane 8 s.

L designates an adjustable frame located on the front side of themachine, provided with guide-rollers 1'1, adapted to guide a metallicplate as it is introduced into the machine. This frame is attached tothe front ends of horizontal bars 1), arranged to slide longitudinallybetween the gnidebars p and extended under the conical rollers.

l\I designates another frame located on the rear side of the machine,and provided with a cylindrical guide, N, adapted to receive and guidethe twisted portion of a metallic plate as it passes through themachine. This frame is attached to the rear ends of the horizontal bars(1, arranged to slide longitudinally between guidebars q q and extendedby the sides of bars pander the conical rollers. These frames areadapted to slide longitudinally for the purpose of adjusting them inthediiferent positions required for properly supporting and guidingplates of different lengths as they are passed through the machine.

The two sets of rollers being adjusted to form a right-hand spiralconveyor, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and thedrivingshaft being revolved in the required direction to rotate therollers in the reverse directions, (shown by the arrows in Fig. 2,) oneend of a plate to be twisted isinserted between the guide-rollers r andis projected forward in position for the ends of the wings to be caughtbetween the rollers, and the plate is then fed through the machine bythe reverse movements of the rollers. The plate being introduced intothe machine, as above stated, the ends of the wings come in contactfirst with the rollers G G and afterward with the rollers G G", theright wing, a, passing under and bearing against the lower surface ofroller G, and then passing over and bearing upon the upper surface ofroller G, while the left wing, a, passes over and bears upon the uppersurface of roller G", and then passes under and bears against the lowersurface of roller G.

Hence it will be readily seen that the forward a portion of the rightwing is being twisted 11pward by the roller G while the forward portionof the left wing is being twisted downward by the roller G, and that theroller G bears downward the portion of the right wing immediately infront of roller G, while the roller G bears upward the portion of theleft wing immediately in front of the roller G, and thus the rollers G Gtwist the right wing while the rollers G" G twist the left wing. To forma left-hand conveyor the positions of the frames carrying the conicalrollers are reversed, thus reversing the relative positions of the twosets of rollers, so that the end of the plate to be twisted, beinginserted through the guide-rollers, comes in contact first with rollersG- and G and then with the rollers G G.

In the operation of forming a loft-hand spiral conveyor thedriving-shaft and rollers are rotated in the same directions, as abovedescribed, and the functions of the conical rollers in twisting thewings of this conveyor are precisely similar to their functions informing the right-hand conveyor.

These spiral conveyors may be formed by this machine of slitted platessuch as are shown in the drawings of this application, and are fully setforth in the patent, No. 323,944, granted August 11, 1885, to W. O. andN. C. Marr; or the conveyors may be formed by this machine of solidseamless plates, as fully set forth in the patent, No. 371,609, grantedto me October 18, 1887, in which last-nained patent it is stated theplates may be rolled with a ICC IIO

central enlargement extended at the ends to form the journals; or theplates may be rolled.

forming beads near the edges of the wings of the conveyer to strengthenthe said edges. These beads are formed upon the wings by the prcssure'ofthe rollers upon the plate as it is passed in a red-hot conditionthrough the ma chine in the twfsting operation, the rollers neingadjusted to produce upon the portions of the plate adjacent to thatportion which be comes the bead sufficient pressure to reduce thethickness of those portions of the plate and press the heated metal intothe grooves in a manner similar to the well-known process of rollingmetallic substances. To enable the said beads to be formed with theleast possible pressure and friction of the twisting-machine rollersupon the plates, the portions of the wings to be headed may be thickenedin forming the plates for this purpose in a rolling-mill, so that thepressure of the twistingmachine rollers will be mostly upon the beadedportions of the wings.

When it may be desired to dispense with the beads on the wings, planerollers may be substituted in the places of the grooved rollers.

I claim-- 1. In a metal-twisting machine, the combination of the conicalrollers G G, mounted on one side of a vertical plane upon inclinedshafts which are adjustable on reversely-inclined planes, and theconical rollers G G mounted on the opposite side of the said verticalplane upon inclined shafts adjustable on reversely-inclined planes, andmeans adapted to rotate the rollers in reverse directions, whereby ametallic plate is fed between and twisted by the rollers, substantiallyas and for the purposes described.

2. In a metal-twisting machine, the combination, with the frames D D,connected with mechanism whereby the frames are adjustable onreversely-inclined planes at any required inclinatiomof the conicalrollers G G, mounted on one side of a vertical plane upon shafts andjustable with the frame D, and the conical rollers G G", mounted on theother side of the said vertical plane upon shafts adjustable with theframe D, and means adapted to rotate the rollers in reverse directions,whereby a metallic plate may be fed between the rollers and twisted tothe right or left at any required angle, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

3. In a metal'twisting machine, the conical rollers G G, mounted on oneside of a vertical plane, and the conical rollers G" G, mounted on theopposite side of the said vertical plane,

in combination with the heads in m, detachably connected with therollers, and means adapted to rotate the rollers, substantially as andfor the purposes described.

4. In combination with the slotted bars F F, attached to the frame A ofa metal-twisting machine, the reversible frames D D, provided withslotted arms h h, the conical rollers G G, mounted on one side of avertical plane upon the shafts O G, connected with the'said frame D, theconical rollers G G", mounted on the other side of the said verticalplane upon the shafts G 0 connected with the said frame D,and mechanismadapted to rotate the rollers, the said slotted bars being provided withmeasuringscales, and" the said slotted arms being adjustably connectedwith the slotted bars, whereby the conical rollers may be adjusted atthe different positions required for twisting the flights of spiralconveyers at different angles, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

5. In combination with the slotted bars F F, attached to the frame of ametal-twisting machine, the reversible frame D, provided with theslotted arm 71, adjustably connected with the slotted bar F, the movablebearings I) c d, as constructed and connected, the 0011- ical rollers GG, mounted on the inclined shafts G 0, extended through the frame D andhaving their bearings in the frame and in the said movable bearings, thereversible frame D, having the slotted arm h, adjustably connected withthe slotted bar F, the movable bearings b c d, as constructed andconnected, the conical rollers G G mounted on the inclined shafts 0 0extended through frame D and having their bearings in the frame D and inthe said movable bearings, and means adapted to rotate the rollers,substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination, with the frame of a metal-twisting machine, of themovable frame L, located on the front side of the machine and providedwith the guide-rollersr 0*, adapted to guide a metallic plate as it isintroduced into the machine, and the movable frame M, placed on the rearside of the machine and provided with the cylindrical guide N, adaptedto guide the twisted portion of the plate as it passes through themachine, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. The movable bearings b d, mounied on the drive-shaft B, the movablepiece 0, having pivotal connection with a standard of the frame A, avertically-reciprocating yoke, g, the reversible frame D, having pivotalconnection with the yoke, the shafts G 0, carried by the said movablebearings and by the frame D, and the conical rollers G G, mounted on thesaid shafts, in combination with the movable bearings 11 d, mounted onthe said driveshaft, the movable piece 0, having pivotal connection witha standard of frame A, avertically reciprocating yoke, the reversibleframe D, having pivotal connection with the said yoke, the shafts O C,carried by the said rollers-one on each side of the said verticalplanebeing provided with annular grooves n, I 5 whereby thickened raisedbeads may be formed on the wings of a spiral conveyer as the metallicplate is passed between the rollers, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my sig- 2o nature in presence of twowitnesses.

\VILLIAM 0. MARK.

Witnesses G120. A. OLIVER, A. J. MAUGHIJN.

